Machine for pressing glassware.



E. FERNGREN. MACHINE FOR PRESSING GLASSWARE. APPLICATION FILED JAN-8.1913- 1 m m Patented Jan. 30, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I- M fl E. FERNGREN. MACHINE FOR PHESSING GLASSWARE.

APPLlCATlON FILED JAN-B, I913. 53., Patented Jan. 30, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR ITNIESSE$ That is,

ENOCH FERNGREN, 0F KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

MACHINE FOR PRESSING GLASSWARE.

Specification of Letters Patent.-

Application filed January e, 1913. Serial n. 740,754.

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that l[, ENOGH FERNGREN, a citizen of Sweden, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, United States of America, have invented new and useful Improvements in Machines for Pressing Glassware; of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention is an improved method and apparatus for making articles of glassware, and the general object sought to be accomplished is the production in an effective and automatic manner of such articles as are now generally made by experienced hand press operators. I aim preferably to provide for the progressive formation of articles in which a formative pressing operation is involved but which enables in one machine operative reception and manipulation of a plurality of molds of different character. the ordinary glass machine while capable of progressively operatin on a plurality of molds, is incapable of receiving and successively operating on a plurality of molds in which the requisite depth or stroke of the pressing plunger varies.

In the manufacture of glassware, it is often desirable to manufacture various articles on one machine and from a particular ger, whereby a quick bath of molten glass. However, as the ordinary multiple mold glass machine is constructed to operate in conjunction with a single conforming plunger or a plurality of plungers, it is impossible to present to the machine a pluralityof molds in which the range of plunger strokes varies in depth among said molds. By my apparatus unlike molds may be successively passed in a pressing station and operatively pressed in such manner that each mold receives the proper length of plunger stroke, thereby affording mechanism capable of universal output.

A further object of my invention is to provide new and improved plunger construction and means for pressing said plunor a graduated sustained stroke may be afforded. In the provision of-such means there is automatically afforded any required modification of pressure transmission and plunger movement as well as congealing and solidifying dwell in contact with the glass in the mold for the impression, expression and permanent shaping of the glass therein.

Another object of my invention is the prov sion of new and improved means for opening and closing the molds.

I also aim to provide novel means whereby the mold may beautomatically locked and unlocked at the proper time.

Other new and improved features are provided, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

ll will now describe my invention so that others skilled in the art to which it appertains may understand and ponstruct the same, it being premised, however, that various changes may be made in the construction shown without departing from my invention.

While I have shown the mechanism as operating on tumbler molds, it will be apparent that the invention is equally applicable to the production of other pressed articles such asbowls, or other dishes or bottles and other hollow ware.

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, showing a glass machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an elevational view looking toward the front of the mold while in elevated position and during pressing operation and showing the lower platform or table in cross-section; Fig. 3 is a top plan view partly in section and showing the upper table or iplatiform partly broken away; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view showing mold locking mechanism; Fig. 5is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view showing modified manner of operating the pressing plunger; and Fig. 8 is a similar view partly in section and showing another modified form of mechanism for operating the plunger pressing lever.

In describing my invention the reference numeral 2 indicates a plurality of molds which are normally carried by a lower horizontally rotatable platform or table Each mold preferably rests on a platform or base plate 4: which is slidably received between guides which plate the molds are slidingly shifted on the table for the purpose of presenting them to charging and discharging stations, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

Patented J an. 3%, llWL't.

5 mounted on the table 3, and by 106 Disposed above the table 3 is a second table 110 the cam 'tion.

or horizontal platform 5 adapted to travel in unison with the table 3 and which carries a series of ring or neck molds 6 disposed to register with the molds 2 and adapted to fit on the upper face of the mold in the usual manner when the mold is elevated, as shown in Fig. 1, preparatory to the pressing opera- Also carried by the table 5 are the plungers 7. As shown in Fig. 2 they are preferably pivoted to a bar or lever 8 which in turn is ournaIed at- 9 to the platform 5 and normally urged upwardly by means of a spring 10 which is interposed between a fixed stop 11 on the table 5 and a depending end 12 of the lever 8. Normally the plunger 7 in each case is held sufliciently elevated to permit of lateral withdrawal of the mold at the discharging station.

he numeral 13 indicates a fixed arm or support having a housing or box formation 14 in which is mounted a shiftable fulcrum block 15 actuable by means of a cam 16 adjustably mounted on the upper face of the table 5. A spring 17 normally urges the block 15 outwardly into engagement with 16, as hereinafter described, and operatively associated with the fulcrum block or piece 15 is a pressing lever 18 which may be rocked by any suitable device, as by means of an electromagnet or solenoid 19. The opposite end of the lever 18 carries a cushioned head 20 which delivers the pressing stroke to the plungers 7 as the bar 8, upon rotation of the table 5 passes the pressing station. This head 20 preferably carries a roller 21 which directly engages the bar 8 and permits of travel of the bar when in its depressed position, without undue friction. The character of the bar 8 is such as to pro vide an inclined top surface 22-over which the roller 21 rides during travel of the mold. By means of this inclined surface the plunger may be given an initial stroke after which the stroke may be completed by passage of the bar beneath the roller under travel of the platform 5*, the plunger being gradually forced into the glass as the bar is forced against the presser roller. By adjusting the plane or the angle of inclination of the bar 8 with reference to the roller 21, or by differently shaping the upper surface of the bar 8, to thereby provide higher or lower points of contact for the roller 21, great range of variations in formative press: ing actions are made available within the operative limits of the coacting mechanisms.

Any suitable means may be provided for elevating the molds into engagement with their respective ring molds 6 preparatory to the pressing operation. As shown in Fig. l the platform 4. may be shifted upwardly by means of the vertical shifting post 23 operatively associated with a cam track 24; a coil spring" 25 being interposed between the post 23 and platform 4 to cushion the up ward stroke and to accommodate variations in height of different molds which may be employed, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. The neck ring or mold (3 is also provided with cushioning springs 26 which afford a pressure seating action of the ring molds on the upper part of the main molds 2. At one side of the machine is a cam way 27 formed in the upper face of a suitable frame-work 28. And carried by the platform 4 is a depending roller 29 which is adapted to ride in the cam way 27. The cam way 27 is of such character as to bring about sliding withdrawal of the molds from between the two platforms 3 and 5 for discharge of the completed glass articles. As the platforms 3 and 5 are rotated (which may be effected in any desired way, such as any mechanism usually employed for rotating the horizontal table of a glass machine) the rollers 29 will sweep into the cam way 27 the action of which on the roller will cause the platform 4 to be withdrawn as shown in Fig. 3. At the connnencement of withdrawal of the mold at the discharging station a locking block 30 will be shifted by said roller to unlocking position thereby allowing the mold to open under the action of the contractile spring 31 carried by the arms 32 of the mold sections, when the mold is withdrawn sufficiently to free it from ongagen'ient with the guides 5, as hereinafter described.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 3 4 and 5 the mold locking block vided with the locking shoulders engage locking lugs 34 carried by section, when the mold is closed. The pivot 35 of the roller 29 is carried by a block 36 which supports the member 30. A coil spring 37 is interposed between the block 36 and locking member 30, normally urging the block into a position permissive of the lugs 34 wiping past and engaging the lock shoulders 33 when the mold closes. The pivotal pin 35 passes through a slot 38 in the platform or mold support 4. Upon engagement of the roller 29 with the cam slot 27 the pin 35 will be so shifted in the slot 38 as to retract the locking'member 30 in such manner as to free the shoulders 33 from the lugs 34:. Upon further advance of the roller 29 in the slot 27, the platform 4 will be withdrawn sufliciently to free the mold sections from engagement with the upstanding guides 5, so that the spring 31 will immediately swing the sections to the open position shown in Fig. Of course it will be understood that when the molds have traveled to the position where the roller 29 will engage the cam way 27 they will have been lowered by reason of the depression in or lowered point 39 of the cam track 24 at a point previous to engagement of the roller 29 with its cam way. Upon further rotation 30 is pro 33 which each mold 1 ,2 13 etc til;

of the table 3 the unlocked mold andplatform 4: will travel until the platform A: is slidingly shifted inwardly by the action of the remaining portion of the cam way 27 on the roller 29; the lower portion of the mold sections engaging the upstanding guides 5 in such manner as to cause a closing of the mold. With closing of the mold sections they will be locked in the manner above described by means of the locking member 30.

As the mold passesfrom the discharging station a depending roller 40 carried by-the mold base or platform 41 engages the cam way 41. This cam way is so shaped as to again laterally shift the mold outwardly to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, in which position the mold may be changed in any suitable manner, as by dropping the molten glass therein, by means of a cup feeder, or bypassing the mold beneath the forehearth or feeding hood of a glass furnace, as is well understood. As the mold is shifted outwardly at this station by means r of a cam way and roller separate from or not associated with the locking feature above described, the mold remains closed. From the charging station the mold is drawn inwardly by the cam $1 to a position directly in alinement or beneath its respective neck mold or ring mold 6 after which the roller 42 of the shifting post 23 passes up the inclined portion d3 of he track, so that the mold is elevated into engagement with its ring mold carried bythe upper table and is maintained in that position by means of the straight cam surface 44 until the mold has been swept beneath the pressing lever 18. In its passage beneath the lever 18 the bar 8 is depressed in the manner above described,

so that the mold plunger is driven into the glassfor pressing of the article. 'With passage of the bar 8 from beneath the pressing head of the lever 18, the spring 10 will withdraw the plunger preparatory to descent of the mold to resting position on the table 3, passage to the discharge station and lateral outward shifting.

Where it is desired to form an article in which a blowing step is required a blowing station may be interposed between the pressing station and the starting station.

It will be seen that a common pressing dev ce is employed to successively depress the plungers as they pass therebeneath upon rotation of the table. Where molds requiring different plunger strokes are employed it is necessary to provide means toregulate or properly apportion the pressing leverage as each mold is presented for pressing of the article. As shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 6, such means is afiorded in theprovision of the shiftable block 15 and cam plate 16, above described. The cam plates are adapted to engage the depending foot or pin 46 of the of stroke of the plunger required, so that upon rotation of the table 5 the cam piece in each instance will wipe against and shift .the fulcrum block 15 in such manner as to change the point of fulcrum of the lever 18 and thereby adjust the leverage stroke 0f the lever in accordance with the particular demand of each mold; said cam pieces extending forwardly of or in advance of the mold so as to shift the fulcrum block before the lever descends to depress the plunger.

This feature of shifting the fulcrum of the pressure stroke applying lever 18 in combination with the previously described functions of the bar 8, etc, makes possible a perfect duplication of the most difficult and eX- acting press forming operations now performed by skilled or experienced hand press operators. 3

By elevating the molds in the manner above described and laterally advancing and withdrawing them at the charging and dis charging points or stations, ll am enabled to utilize a small amount of space and to do away with the usual overhead cumbersome plunger and presser plate mechanism em- 5 ployed in ordinary multiple mold machine s. Elevation of the mold into position for pressing also enables me to advantageously employ molds of difierent heights in conjunction with which operates the variable stroke 0 pressure mechanism above described.

Changes may be made in the mechanism for operating the plunger actuatlng lever.

As shown in Fig. 7, a pressure cylinder 19 may lee-employed instead of asolenoid, to operate said plunger mechanism; the lever 18 corresponding in function to the lever 18 above described. Still another modified arrangement for operating the plunger mechanism is shown in Fig. 8, wherein a cam 19' may be employed in lieu of the solenoid to depress the plunger lever 18.

it will be apparent that other changes may be made in the construction shown and described, without departing from my invention.

While l have shown particular means for laterally shifting the molds at the charging and discharging stations it will be apparent that the broad idea of acting on non-uniform molds, is not to be restricted to embodiment in such mechanism.

Other advantages of my invention will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. By

the provision of my device there isprovided a glass machine and method of universal nature in that a plurality of molds of varying I productive character and pressing requirements may be employed in a single machine and successively acted upon without interruption of continuity of operation to efiect 1% oil adjustment of the formative mechanism with respect to said differential gradations of the non-uniform set of molds.

aving thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In apparatus for making articles of glassware, a plurality of press molds having varying formative characteristics, a plurality of stationary mold rings, coacting plunger mechanism, means for successively elevating said moldsto said mold rings, and means for successively imparting predetermined different substantially limited pressing movements to said plunger mechanism responsive to the respective shaping requirements of the press molds. I

In apparatus for making articles of glassware, a plurality of press molds having varying formative characteristics, a plurality of ring molds, plunger mechanism, means for successively presenting said press molds to the ring molds and to said plunger mechanism, and automatically re-adjusting means for successively imparting positive predetermined and differently limited pressing movements to said plunger mechanism responsive to the respective shaping requirements of the molds.

3. In apparatus for making. articles of glassware, a plurality of press molds having varying formative characteristics, a pressing plunger associated with each mold, and .automatically pre-adjusting and differentiating means for successively modifying and varying the plunger stroke and the pressure acting upon the plungers for imparting to each plunger a predetermined pressing movement responsive to the different formative requirements of its respective mold.

4. In apparatus for making articles of glassware, a plurality of press molds having varying formative characteristics, a pressing plunger for each mold, means for successively presenting the molds to the plungers, and automatically mechanically re-adjusting means for acting upon the plungers for imparting to each plunger a specific pre-limited distance movement into the mold, and a different predetermined pressing movement specifically responsive to the formative "requirements of its respective mold, and the period of cooperative pressing engagement therewith.

In apparatus for making articles of glassware, a pluralitv of press molds having varying formative characteristics, a pressing plunger associated with each mold, means for successively. acting upon the plungers for imparting to each plunger a specific and predetermined pressing stroke and a pre-arranged distance movement into the mold, and means for successively effecting a predetermined different and specifically responsive formative dwell between each plunger and its respective mold.

In apparatus for making articles of glassware, the combination of a plurality of rotatable supports, a plurality of press molds positioned intermediate said supports, a plurality of ring molds carried by one of the supports, means associated with another of said supports, for presenting the press molds to the ring molds, a pressing plunger-associated with each ring mold, and means for successively acting upon the plungers for bringing them into cooperative association with the press molds by imparting to each plunger :1 different predetermined pressingaction responsive to the formative requirements of. its respective mold.

7. In an apparatus for shaping articles of glass-ware, a rotatable structure, a plurality of. press molds having unlike formative shapes and dimensions movably mounted in said structure, a plurality of associated ringmolds adapted to register with said molds, and stationarily located in said structure in spaced alinement above said molds, a plurality of vertically movable pressing plungers associated with said ring-molds and individually supported by yielding mechanical partsin said structure, each of said plungers having a different shape and dimension suitable for cooperation with its respective mold, plunger actuating and pressure applying mechanism, means for successively advancing the molds outwardly with respect to said ring-molds and plungers, to receive a charge of glass and thereafter return the molds to position occupied previous to said outward movement, means for moving the molds upwardly into seated stationary alinement with said ring-molds after said return movement, means for successively presenting the plun'gers to the actuating mechanism, means for successively automatically changing the movement of the actuating mechanism before the plungers are presented thereto, to produce a different length of plunger stroke for the differently dimensioned plungers, means for automatically controlling the pressure application of the plunger actuating mechanism and successively modifying and graduating the pressing engagement of the plungers with the molds, whereby each plunger receives a predetermined and specific press ing movement and is successively caused to enter its respective mold and co-act therewith in the action of press-shaping an article of glass from the glass received in the mold in a manner specifically co'ordinant with the formative limitations of each of said unlike molds and the shaping requirements of each different article of glass under press-shaping formation in each of said molds, means independent of the actuating mechanism whereby the plungers are successively reriodically plunger naiaeaa leased from pressing engagement with the molds, and means for moving the molds downwardly and outwardly after the plunger is released from the mold, said means for moving the molds outwardly acting to open each of the molds at the termination of its outward travel to free the article of glass, and permit its removal.

8. In an apparatus for making articles of glass-ware, a traveling support, a plurality of press molds carried thereby and having different formative characteristics, a plural: ity of mold-rings for said molds, a pressing adapted to be periodically associated with each mold, plunger actuating mechanism, and means for successively presenting the plungers to the actuating mechanism, means for automatically controlling the actuating mechanism, to differently vary its actuating movements, whereby each plunger shall have imparted to it thereby pe riodically different pressing movements and,

specific predetermined shaping movements responsive to the pre-established formative requirements of the article of glass-ware under press forming formation, and therespective limitations of its corresponding mold.

9. In a glass press, a plurality of press molds of different formative nature, a mold ring for each of said molds, a pressing plunger adapted to be intermittently and peassociated with each mold, sustaining means for each of said plungers adapted to yieldingly support the same in the proximity of its individual mold-ring, means for acting upon the plungers for imparting to each plunger in a successive manner a specific pre-arranged and different pressing movement, substantially independent of the formative limitations of its respective molds and responsive to the pre-estab lished requirements for the press forming of difierently shaped articles of glassware, and means for successively imparting a different formative dwell to each plunger while associated with its respective mold.

10. In a mechanism for shaping articles of glass-ware, a plurality of molding instrumentalities, comprising exterior members and interior members, pressing mechanism associated with the interior member and means for successively limiting and modify ing the action of the pressing mechanism so as to impart to said interior members specific graduated and limitedinterior displacing and shaping movements and progressive and graduated cooperative molding action with the exterior shaping members, and

means for releasing the interior members fromassociating with the exterior members, and means for successively advancing the exterior members downwardly and out- 1 gardly with respect to said interior memera.

11. In an apparatus for making articles of glass-ware, a rotary support, a plurality of press molds mounted thereon having different formative characteristics and adapted for independent movement during the rotation of said support, a second parallel sup port positioned'above the first support, ringmolds carried on the under side of said sup port, a plurality of pressing plungers also carried by the second. support and individually yieldingly supported from the upper surface of said support and adapted to be associated with their respective molds, a relatively fixed rigid support extending horizontally above the said upper rotary support, a pressure applying plunger actuating mechanism carried b said rigid support and adapted to be intermittently and periodically associated with the plungers during the rotation of the upper and lower rotary supports, means for vertically elevating the molds into stationary seated register with their respective ring-molds during the rotation of said supports, compressible means for holding the ring-molds and the successively elevated molds in elastically yielding engagement during their seated registry, shiftable means for variably and successively adjusting the pressure applying movement of the plunger actuating mechanism, means for presenting the plungers to the actuating mechanism, simultaneously active means for moving said shiftable means during the presentation of the plungers to the actuating pressure-applying mechanisms whereby the actuating mechanism is automatically and successively influenced to deliver a specific and different pressure movement to the 'said plunger and whereby each plunger is successively depressed into its corresponding mold, during the rotation of said supports, and influenced to coact therewith in pre-determined and pre-established manner in accordance with the known requirements for press forming articles of glass-ware having different formative characteristics, means for releasing the plungers from pressing engagement with the molds and means for moving the molds ownwardly and outwardly with respect to said plungers, said means for moving the molds outwardly acting to open the same and successively free the press formed articles of glass-ware to permit their removal.

12. In a glass press, a press mold, a moldring therefor, a plunger adapted to associate with said molding members, a horizontally disposed pressure applying lever adapted to intermittently apply and communicate movement to said plunger to cause the same to enter said mold, means in connection with said plunger whereby the movement and pressure applied thereto are modified to su the particular press forming operation required, and means in connection with said horizontally disposed lever whereby the movement of said lever is pre-determined and limited in conformity with the plunger stroke required to be imparted to said plunger as it enters said mold, and means for dis-associating the molding members after said press-forming operation.

13. In a glass press, a plurality of molds, a mold ring and a plunger for each of said molds, pressure applying means, means for registering said plungers successively with said pressure means, and adjustablejmeans connected with each plunger for transmitting pressure from the pressure means to that plunger as it is registered with said means for applying pressure.

n a pressing device, a pressure applying means, a series of molds successively registrable with the pressure-applying means, and a series of devices successively associated with said pressure means, each of said devices adapted to govern the speed and extent of movement of the pressure means while associated therewith.

In a pressing device, pressure applying means, a series of molds successively registrable with the pressure-applying means, a series of devices successively associated with said pressure means, each of said devices adapted to govern the speed and extent of movement of the pressure means while associated therewith, and a plunger traveling with each mold and adapted to contact with the pressure-applying means when the molds register with said pressure means, each plunger being to transmit pressure at the rate and to the extent required for pressing material in the mold and shaping the article.

16. In a pressing apparatus, a series of molds, a pressing lever, means for positioir ing the molds successively beneath the press ing'lever, a plunger traveling with each adapted mold, an adjustable member attached to each plunger and adapted to be interposed between the plunger and said lever when they are in registration, and a shiftable fulcrum for the lever, and a cam traveling with each mold, each cam being adapted for positioning the fulcrum of said pressing lever during its registry with the adjustable member associated with the same mold.

17. In a pressing apparatus, a series of molds, a pressing lever, means for positioning the molds successively beneath the press ing lever, a shiftable fulcrum for the lever, and a cam traveling with each mold adapted to position the fulcrum for the pressing operation upon the mold.

18. In a pressing apparatus, a series of molds, a plunger traveling with each mold, a pressing lever, means for positioning the molds successively beneath the pressing lever, and an adjustable member attached to each plunger and adapted for pressure transmission between the lever and the plunger while the associated mold is positioned beneath the lever.

19. A pressing apparatus, a series of molds, a plunger traveling with each mold, an adjustable member attached to each plunger, a pressing lever, a shiftable fulcrum for the lever, a cam traveling with each mold adapted to shift the fulcrum for the pressing operation upon each respective mold, and means for successively positioning each mold, plunger and adjustable member in registration with the pressing lever after the shifting of the fulcrum.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ENOCH FERN GREN. Witnesses MARY A. BARTH, M. A. KELLER. 

